Ziva Payvan

EMBERS - ˈem-bərs 1. the smoldering remains of a fire 2. slowly dying or fading emotions, memories, ideas, or responses still capable of being revived A silent war is raging through the far reaches of Fringe Space. Vying for territory and precious resources, the Niiosian Mob-governed by the calculating Tobias Niio-prepares for a showdown with the Ibarra Cartel and its ambitious leader, Alastair Manes. After reuniting with Ziva Payvan and escaping the Ibarra-controlled world of Panuco, the Alpha team is faced with choosing a side in the ongoing battle between the two galactic criminals. But nothing is ever as simple as it seems, and an offer to help tilt the odds in the Niiosians' favor draws them deeper into the conflict than they ever anticipated. With little faith in their tenuous alliance, they must stand together in order to protect both themselves and each other. Meanwhile, haunted by the events of the past four years, Ziva is put to the ultimate test as she confronts the inner demons that threaten to consume her. With Aroska and her old team at her side, she must fight to regain control of her life and put an end to the struggle between Ibarra and Niio…which may just free her from her personal battles as well.

CONTAINS: Fracture: Ziva Payvan Legacy, Part 1 Embers: Ziva Payvan Legacy, Part 2 Four years after the Resistance's plan for retribution was foiled, the galaxy as a whole is at peace. The people of Haphez remain independent and free of Federation scrutiny thanks to a major sacrifice by one of their own. Those affected by the loss have found new purpose. Life goes on. But when commissioned with hunting down a rogue Haphezian assassin, Aroska Tarbic, Skeet Duvo, and Zinni Vax find themselves caught in the midst of a war between two major players in the galactic the Niiosian Mob, governed by the calculating Tobias Niio, and the Ibarra Cartel, ruled by the ambitious Alastair Manes. As the conflict escalates and rages across multiple worlds, the team's best hope for survival is to seek help from an unexpected ally...someone who didnotwant to be found. Everything has a breaking point. When it seems all hope is shattered, the agents must band together to face their inner demons and rekindle the spark burning within. FRACTURE - frak-shr 1. to cause a crack or fracture in; break 2. to damage or destroy 3. the act or process of breaking or the state of being broken EMBERS - em-brs 1. the smoldering remains of a fire 2. slowly dying or fading emotions, memories, ideas, or responses still capable of being revived

On the outer edges of populated space, beyond the Galactic Federation's reach, crime syndicates rule the stars, none more influential than the Niiosian Mob. Controlling multiple planetary systems through economic leverage, calculated violence, and covert operations, the Mob shapes Fringe Space with its extensive network and virtually unchallenged authority. Ken Oda is the Mob's deadliest assassin, a precision instrument sent to silence threats across the Fringe. When he's dispatched to thwart a rebellion disrupting Mob trade, he's unexpectedly paired with his half-brother Jerrick, a fellow hitman whose brutal methods clash with Ken's preference for finesse. Tasked with either eliminating the rebels or aligning them with the Mob, the brothers must navigate a treacherous environment where conflicting approaches, unchecked ambition, and hidden agendas test their partnership. Loyalty ties Ken and Jerrick, both to Niio and to each other, but the mission strains their alliance. As they confront its challenges, every decision carries a price-blood, trust, the bond of brotherhood-reshaping their relationship in a world where outcomes are never certain. Tools of the Trade is a prequel to the Fracture: Ziva Payvan Legacy, Part 1 and Embers: Ziva Payvan Legacy, Part 2 and can be enjoyed independently.

"Someone out there chose the wrong person to start this fight with, and it will have been the last mistake they ever made." It has been two months since the mission to Dakiti that brought Ziva Payvan and her special operations team face-to-face with death. But like any other mission, she has put it behind her and keeps her focus directed toward whatever comes next. Life for HSP's Alpha spec ops team has essentially returned to normal. But then a Haphezian dignitary is found murdered in his private residence, and Ziva is shocked to find herself at the center of the investigation. The mark of a professional killer. The irrefutable evidence. Even the motive. All of it seems to point directly to her. There's just one problem: she didn't do it. Hunted by a ruthless HSP captain, Ziva must go on the run from the very people who taught her everything she knows. The agency that once had her back is now her biggest threat; those she considered allies have turned against her or have their hands tied. As a skilled assassin who has been trained to be invisible, evading her pursuers seems like an easy task, but her own skills can only take her so far. Desperate to clear her name and find the real killer, Ziva turns to an old acquaintance, a man who saved her life once…and the last person she ever planned on asking for help.

The world of Chaiavis is a lawless place. As a haven for smugglers, mercenaries, and criminals from all corners of Fringe Space, the sprawling citys law enforcement officials are consistently overwhelmedat least those who arent already in the pockets of the local gangs and cartels. Banished from her homeworld of Haphez due to a genetic defect, Kat Reilly has called Chaiavis home since childhood. Her intimate knowledge of the streets and inner workings of the city has turned her into a skilled fixer. Her clientsthe desperate, the powerful, sometimes bothseek out her services when conventional channels arent an option. When shes hired by an agent from Haphezs own embassy to track down a stolen service weapon, Kat is tempted to refuse. But the deeper she digs into the theft, the clearer it becomes that the weapon is merely a piece of a much larger, more sinister puzzle. On this job, her mission to help others becomes a battle for her own survival. I Am Reilly is a short story set just prior to the events of Nexus: Ziva Payvan Book 2 and can be enjoyed independently.